In the basement of the old jail in Mount Holly, John Kurkis probes the inky darkness with a sound recorder and an infrared thermal thermometer. He's hunting for ghosts.Every now and then, he snaps a digital photo, hoping to record an orb, a wisp of ectoplasm passing by, or even a rare vortex. A member of South Jersey Paranormal Research, Kurkis helps probe spooky houses, historic buildings and cemeteries looking for evidence of thehereafter. "I've been interested in it for years," said Kurkis, 39, of Deptford.The jail, now the Historic Burlington County Prison Museum, has lots of stories, said Susan Bove, who founded SJPR in 2001.
For more than a century, the jail housed all walks of life, from petty crooks to murderers. Hangings were carried out in the prison yard. And until an adjacent house was built, the warden's family lived behind the thick masonry walls.
"We love the history," said Bove, 46, of Glendora. "It was built in 1811 and housed prisoners until 1965."
SJPR comes to the jail a
few times a year. Because of the activity members say is recorded, it's
a good place to give new members some hands-on training.
Other groups also have been there, includingSouth Jersey Ghost Research, another organization that fans out across the area.
Last fall, a crew from
SciFi Channel's "Ghost Hunters" visited the museum for several days.
The show is expected to air in the new season, although a date has not
been announced.
Bove knows there are
skeptics out there -- people who say spirits don't exist or that tapes
and photos are fabrications -- and she invites them to tag along with
the group to see things firsthand.
Some people, like Bonnie Knowles, a new member, participate while searching out answers to life's questions.
"I want to know where we go
when we leave this life," said Knowles, 37, of Egg Harbor Township.
"I'm just looking for answers to what happens when we move on."
New member Jim DiVietro, 37, of Cherry Hillwants......
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Jim Morrison ghost picture "authentic"
The children who really do see dead people
Poltergeists
Malaysian museum cancels ghost exhibition
Psychodrama
Ghost hunters out for answers
Supernatural exceeds religious belief in UK ?
A family’s tale of mischief and woe
Does a haunting affect a house's value ?
Woman blames poltergeist for loud parties
